Exercise
Countermeasures Project (ECP)
The Exercise Countermeasures Project (ECP) is focused
on providing requirements for exercise devices and prescriptions
for future exploration missions. To achieve this objective,
ECP will determine the degree to which aerobic and resistance
exercise attenuate deconditioning associated with simulated
missions to, and extended stays in, reduced gravito-inertial
environments. In particular, the ECP will conduct microgravity
and lunar bed rest studies to identify how exercise should
be used to maintain bone, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular,
and motor-sensory system health necessary to complete
anticipated exploration mission tasks. The ECP is interested
in mapping individual physiologic system changes to changes
in whole-body functional performance and will use
task simulators that replicate activities relevant to
lunar and Martian surface operations. Finally, the ECP
will work with the Flight Analogs Project (FAP) to understand
the functional and physiologic impacts associated with
1/6 G loading and performance of extravehicular activity
(EVA) on the human body to determine if these alone, or
in combination, are protective against deconditioning
that occurs in these environments.
Data from these spaceflight analog studies will help
to fill a knowledge gap with regard to the ability of
exercise countermeasures to protect the functional capacity
of crew members to successfully execute exploration
mission objectives. Further, data from these studies
will help define the optimal exercise prescription including
intensity, frequency, duration, and type(s) of hardware
needed to maximize crew health and performance.
For more information, please see http://hacd.jsc.nasa.gov/projets/ecp.cfm
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